Railways around Coventry

Thanks Peter, I should have researched that a month ago but things were slightly chaotic and I used the usual knee jerk plan.

The new timetable starts on Sunday 19th May. There are a number of changes to local services. Timetables are now on-line. Virgin Trains London-West Midlands West Midlands-Scotland West Midland Trains/London North Western Birmingham-Northampton (Local Stations) Birmingham-London Euston (Major stations only) Coventry-Birmingham-Liverpool Nuneaton-Coventry-Leamington Regards, Peter.

Hi all & thank you, Peter. Telegraph News Item For folks living in the Holbrooks & northern areas of Coventry, please remember that the journey time from the Ricoh to Coventry station is just eight minutes. A lot faster than a taxi or bus & most rail fares are the same as travelling from Coventry station. The Ricoh is a much easier drop off point than Coventry station.

Hi all Pam is coping so well, that I am able to see just a bit of the world that has eluded me for over eight months. On Friday, I enjoyed a trip from the Ricoh to Coventry, on a very comfortable two coach 172 unit, then today, a return trip to Nuneaton.

The new child's playground in Pappenham Green with train passing on Birmingham line taken yesterday. Many years ago we would go to the bridge at Wolfe Road for train spotting and playing in Canley Brook. No constructed child's playground in those days and the trains are more frequent today.

Coundon Rd looking towards the city.

Loved it when we had to go under the bridge.

I walk under and over there nearly every day as my youngest is still at Bablake.

Morning all 31 Jul from BBC news. Call to open two new railway stations Local Democracy Reporting Service There have been calls to reopen a Coventry railway station which closed in 1965 and build another, brand new one. The Conservatives on Coventry City Council say it would help reduce congestion and pollution and perhaps avoid the need for an unpopular pollution charge for motorists entering the city. The Conservative group leader, councillor Gary Ridley, pointed out there was no station between Coventry and Rugby and added: "The city is under represented in terms of train stations." The party has been leafleting people living near the former Coundon Road railway station and has received support from the Conservative West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street. Site of the original Brandon & Wolston station now, picture below from over sixty years ago. My opinion is that any replacement of the former Brandon & Wolston, needs to be a user friendly park & ride.

Given the incredibly high prices quoted for station building I can see no way this will ever happen. Kenilworth cost £4.3m for 50 people an hour - hardly an economic no-brainer

Virgin Trains lose West Coast Mainline franchise to FirstGroup

Hi all A visit by train to Kenilworth. The location in Kenilworth, at the end of Station Road, is ten minutes walk for me from the High Street area. Enjoyed a good coffee & bacon roll in the Rocking Horse cafe. Not cheap, but neither was the bacon & coffee. It was top quality. Maybe some sort of bus liaison is needed. Not easy getting joined up thinking between local authorities, railways & bus operators. View looking towards Coventry.

There was a bus - but not enough people used it. It was withdrawn at the end of May. Bus service to be withdrawn from Kenilworth Station Peter.

Hi Peter Thank you for that. A shuttle service was always going to be dubious, most reopened railway stations are slow burners, the through service from Nuneaton has only recently started, which from my experience yesterday has generated more passenger usage who alighted at Kenilworth, than that I saw twelve months ago. Maybe re-routing one of the through bus services might be of use. Yesterday was such a good experience of speed & comfort on the train, leaving the Ricoh at 10.28am & arrived in Kenilworth sixteen minutes later. Returning at midday on a hot day, the aircon was fab on the train. In contrast to yesterday's lovely summer heat, a picture for you Peter, the coldest midday temperature ever recorded in January 1963, the River Severn frozen right across.

Hi Philip, I'm glad you are getting out and about again. The 1963 picture has a nice cooling effect (very slightly before my time). Operating railways in extreme heat or cold is no fun. The equipment gets very temperamental and doesn't work properly (the same can be said of the staff). I've read elsewhere that it takes about three years for a new train service to reach its full potential. The first passenger usage figures for Kenilworth should be published in December. The "Station Approach", the road from Kenilworth station to the main shopping street, has two sections of one way, both away from the Waitrose car park so is no use as a through route and any bus using the station would miss the main shopping street and the "bus interchange", probably losing more passengers than it gained. I think most people who get on a bus in Kenilworth stay on it until Coventry or Leamington as it will also cut out the walk from the station at the other end. Peter.